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Effect of Water Stress on the Anatomical Characters of Root and Stem of Maize Plant

M. Akkas Ali
Department of Crop Botany, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Myrnensingh, Bangladesh.

A.K.M.A. Prodhan
Department of Crop Botany, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Myrnensingh, Bangladesh.

M.A. Haque
Department of Crop Botany, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Myrnensingh, Bangladesh.

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

An anatomical investigation was made on the root and stem of maize (Zea mays L.) cv. Bornali grown under natural, drought, saturated and 2 cm standing water conditions. The epidermis of the stern bears thick cuticle in drought and no cuticle in waterlogged condition. The middle and inner cortex of root and the outer ground tissue of stern were disorganized and disintegrated forming large air spr ces under waterlogged condition. On the contrary, these cells became smaller in size with greater in wall thickness under drought condition. The secondary thickening as well as the number of the sclerenchymatous cells of bundle sheath became maximum in drought, minimum in waterlogged situation and moderate in the natural and saturated soil moisture conditions. The number of bundle sheath followed similar trend. No hypo- dermis was developed in the stem at waterlogged condition. The vessels of the root and stem became wider with thicker walls in drought but narrower with thinner walls in waterlogged condition.

Keywords: Water stress, Root, Maize, Anatomical characters

Location: Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh

Start Date: 00-00-1991

End Date:

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Maize, Water management

Objectives:

To investigate the anatomical feature of the root and stem of maize plant at different levels of moisture conditions.

Methodology:

An experiment was conducted in pots during the rabi seasen of 1991 with maize (Zea mays L.) cultivar Bornali, in the net houses of Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh. Four treatments viz., control, constant drough, constant saturation and 2cm standing water were included in this study. Each treatment was replicated five times. Large plastic pots (35 cm in height) were used for the experiment. The bottom and the side of the pots were sufficiently perforated for quick drainage of excess water and proper aeration. Each pot was filled up with silty loam soil taken from the cultivated land. For the treatment of constant drought, a level of 3 cm sand was placed at the bottom of the pots, so that the excess water could easily be drained out. For 2 cm standing water, the intact pots (without perforation) were used. Five soaked seeds were sown in each pot on early December, 1991. The soaked seeds were considered as zero-day-old seedling. Two healthy plants having uniform growth were allowed to grow in each pot. After sowing, all the pots were exposed to natural conditions of weather in tbe net house. Out of 20 pots, 15 pots were allowed to remain in the net house while 5 pots were transferred to water tank, Standard fertilization and intercultural operation were done, and effective plant protection measures were taken as and when required. The tank (360 cm X 200 cm x 90 cm) was provided with outlets to remove excess of stagnant water as and when necessary. The pots having 30 days old plants were kept in the water tank in such a fashion that each plant was exposed to 2 cm constant standing water. This was done by placing the pots on raised platform. The plants were allowed to grow there till they died or decayed. For the treatment of saturated soil moisture. condition, sufficient water was applied to each pot two times a day, so that the soil became completely wet with no standing water. The plants were allowed to grow under this condition till maturity. Artificial drought condition of soil moisture (8-15%) was created in 5 pots. The plants were allowed to grow there till they were dried or died. A polyethylene shed was made at the corner of the net house to keep away the plants at the time of rain. For the control treatment, 5 pots were placed in the net house. No special arrangement was done for this treatment. Plants of these pots were allowed to grow under normal weather condition. Irrigation water was applied to the pots as and when required. Samples of the stem (internode), 1 cm above soil surface, and middle part of the stem (internode) were taken while the plants were of 30,45,60,75, 90 and 105 days old in all the treatments along with 120 and 135 days old plant of the control and constant saturation treatments. Samples of the root were taken from all the treatments while the plants were of 30, 45, 60, 90 and 105 days old. For the anatomical investigation both hand sectioning and paraffin methods of micro technique were followed. The paraffin sections were made mostly on the results of hand sections. The materials were fixed and preserved in FAA. The fresh and fixed materials were sectioned by hand with the help of razor blades. The sections were then stained with safranin following the standard staining procedure. The fixed materials were dehydrated through the tertiary butyl alcohol (TBA) series. The materials fixed in FAA were washed in running water for 2-3 hours before dehydration. Small and delicate specimens were dehydrated gradually making more grades of alcohol to avoid severe shrinkage. They were kept in TBA grades, one hour in each grade, while the large and hard materials were kept for two hours. The materials were then gradually infiltrated with heavy duty paraffin oil and low melting point paraffin wax (51º-53ºC) for 1-3 days depending on the size of the specimen. Finally, the specimens were embedded in high melting point paraffin wax (61 ºC). Transverse sections of the specimen were made at 10 micron with the help of a rotary microtome. The sections were stained with safranin and fast green and mounted in Canada balsam. Free 'hand sections were also made from fresh and fixed roots and shoots.

Source of Information: Indian J. Agric. Res., 33 (4) : 245-253, 1999.

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

During the present investigation the secondary thickening of the tracheary elements had been found to be more in drought and less in waterlogged condition than that in natural or saturated soil moisture.

Knowledge Management: Journal